U.S. OLYMPIC MEN’S SOCCER TEAM DOMINATES IN HISTORIC 4-1 WIN AGAINST NEW ZEALAND
Four Goals Are Most-Ever for U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team at the Games;
Mihailovic, Zimmerman, Busio and Aaronson Tally as USA Emphatically Rebounds from Opening Defeat to France;
Group A Finale Against Guinea Set for Tuesday, July 30 at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network, Telemundo and Peacock
MARSEILLE, France (July 27, 2024) -- Facing an early crossroads in its long-awaited return to the Olympic Games, the U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team responded with an emphatic, historic performance on Saturday. The dominant U.S. raced out to an early lead and defeated New Zealand 4-1, boosting its standing in Group A and rekindling its knockout stage hopes.
The pivotal victory at the Stade de Marseille was the first for the U.S. Men at the Olympics since their most recent appearance in 2008 and it marked the first time they scored four goals in an Olympic match. It also represented a resounding recovery from Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to favored France.
Djordje Mihailovic and Walker Zimmerman, two of the three overage players permitted on the U.S. Olympic Men’s roster, lifted the side to a two-goal lead in the opening 12 minutes. Midfielder Gianluca Busio, a 22-year-old who’s already won a Concacaf Gold Cup with the senior team, tallied the third. Forward Paxten Aaronson then netted the record-setting fourth as the USA (1W-1L-0D) set itself up to play for a ticket to the quarterfinals in the Group A finale against Guinea.
In Marseille, U.S. head coach Marko Mitrović fielded the same starting XI that held up well during the first hour of the match against France and his faith was rewarded almost immediately. Defender John Tolkin sent a message just 62 seconds in with a confident, long-range shot that forced a save from New Zealand goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, who just signed for English Premier League club Bournemouth.
The USA was committed to attacking quickly and pulled in front seven minutes later. Right back Nathan Harriel was tripped in the Kiwi penalty area and Mihailovic, the 25- year-old Colorado Rapids star who’s played 11 times for the senior team, converted the ensuing spot kick. Mihailovic then helped set up the USA’s second with a well-hit, 12th-minute free kick from the right flank. Striker Duncan McGuire got a head to it, Harriel sent it toward goal, and following Paulsen’s initial save, Zimmerman pounced on the rebound. Zimmerman, the 31-year-old Nashville SC stalwart who distinguished himself at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, became the first overage player to score an Olympic goal for the USA.
New Zealand’s best chance to get back into it came in the 22nd following a stretch of sustained possession. Captain Matthew Garbett, who had committed the penalty kick foul earlier, looked to atone with a blast that skimmed Zimmerman’s head and forced an outstanding reaction save from Schulte. Eight minutes later, the U.S. pulled away. Busio’s goal finished off a play that began with a dribbling run by Tolkin through the left channel. His cross to Kevin Paredes put the Kiwis into disarray and Busio scored through traffic after his initial bid was blocked.
Facing three games in seven days, Mitrović was incentivized to make changes. He removed Busio toward the end of the first half, pulled McGuire and Mihailovic in the 57th and then substituted Paredes and Harriel in the 69th. Griffin Yow, who replaced McGuire, set up the USA’s final goal in the 58th with a nice run and cut-back feed to Aaronson. Inter Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi, the youngest member of Mitrović’s squad, made his Olympic debut when he relieved Harriel.
New Zealand, a quarterfinalist at the previous Olympics in 2021, pulled one back in the 78th minute via a slick turn and 12-yard finish from former Charleston Battery forward Jesse Randall. By then, however, the result had long been settled. The rampant and revitalized USA finished the match with a 19-9 advantage in shots.
The U.S. will conclude its Group A slate, and play for a spot in the Olympic quarterfinals against Guinea on July 30 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne (1 p.m. ET on USA Network, Telemundo and Peacock).
The Olympic tournament features 16 teams drawn into four groups of four. The top two finishers in each quartet following a week-long round robin move on to the Aug. 2 quarterfinals. Host France and Guinea, the remaining two sides in Group A, were scheduled to meet later on Saturday in Nice.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
USA — Djordje Mihailovic (penalty kick), 8th minute: Right back Nathan Harriel pushed forward on a U.S. set piece and was tripped inside the penalty area by New Zealand’s Matthew Garbett. Referee Glenn Nyberg didn’t hesitate to award a penalty kick, and Mihailovic coolly deposited his shot to the right as goalkeeper Alex Paulsen dived left. USA 1, NZL 0
USA — Walker Zimmerman, 12th minute: The Americans doubled their lead off another free kick. Mihailovic’s service from the right flank was won in the penalty area by Duncan McGuire and Nathan Harriel was able to get a foot on the ball and send it toward goal. Kiwi goalkeeper Alex Paulsen got his right hand to it but failed to knock it away and Zimmerman alertly poked the ball home. USA 2, NZL 0
USA — Gianluca Busio, 30th minute: U.S. left back John Tolkin put the New Zealand defense on its heels with a strong dribbling run through the left channel and his switch to Kevin Paredes set up the U.S. chance. Paredes was able to touch the ball back to Busio as he was brought down and Busio hit a shot that was blocked by defender Sam Sutton. The ball bounced back to Busio, who took one touch and then poked a right-footed, 11-yard effort through goalmouth traffic and in. USA 3, NZL 0
USA — Paxten Aaronson (Griffin Yow), 58th minute: Yow, who’d just entered the game in place of Duncan McGuire, found space on the left and was able to round the corner before cutting the ball back toward Aaronson. The winger’s shot slipped between the legs of New Zealand defender Finn Surman and inside the right post. USA 4, NZL 0
NZL - Jesse Randall (Matthew Garbett), 78th minute: A nice move down the left by New Zealand led to a pass from Garbett that split a couple U.S. defenders and gave Randall room to turn. The 21-year-old hit an unstoppable, 12-yard shot into the upper right corner of Schulte’s net. USA 4, NZL 1 FINAL
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- The U.S. is now 1-0-0 vs. New Zealand at the Olympic Games.
- The U.S. improves to 5-4-5 in the group stage since the Under-23 rule was introduced in 1992.
- It’s the USA’s first victory at the Olympics in 5,833 days, since a tournament opening victory vs. Japan on Aug. 7, 2008 at Beijing 2008.
- Since the group stage was introduced at Rome 1960, the U.S. has earned a win in six of eight appearances, including all five participations since the Under-23 restriction began at Barcelona 1992.
- Midfielder Djordje Mihajlovic’s opening penalty goal was the U.S. Men’s first at the Olympics in 5,827 days, since midfielder Sacha Kljestan netted a penalty vs. Nigeria in the group stage at Beijing 2008 on Aug. 13, 2008.
- Mihailovic and defender Walker Zimmerman are the first two overage players to score for the U.S. at the Olympics.
- At 31 years, 70 days, Zimmerman is the oldest U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer player to score at the Games since the team’s first participation in 1924.
- All three U.S. overage players started tonight: Djordje Mihailovic (25 years old), Miles Robinson (27) and Walker Zimmerman (31).
- Coming on as a 69th-minute substitute, midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi made his Olympic debut. The roster’s youngest player at 19 years, 148 days, he’s the sixth-youngest to take the field for the U.S. since the Under-23 rule was introduced in 1992.
- All 16 field players have now made their Olympic debut. Goalkeeper Gaga Slonina is the only member of the 18-man squad yet to see minutes at the Games.
- Robinson and Zimmerman have paired together in central defense for the senior USMNT and the U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team ten times, compiling an 8-2-1 record. All USMNT matches came in official competition (2021 Concacaf Gold Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying) plus the first two matches at Paris 2024.
- Midfielder Tanner Tessmann captained the squad tonight, his sixth time wearing the armband over this cycle’s eight games. He’s served as captain in every match for the Olympic Men’s Soccer Team since Nov. 18 vs. Iraq.
- All players in the Starting XI played in Major League Soccer or developed in an MLS academy. In addition to current MLS clubs, members of the squad also spent time with the following MLS or MLS Next outfits: Aaronson (Philadelphia Union), Busio (Sporting Kansas City), Harriel (Chargers SC), Mihailovic (Chicago Fire FC, CF Montreal), Paredes (D.C. United, Bethesda SC), Robinson (Atlanta United FC, FC Greater Boston Bolts), Tessmann (FC Dallas) and Zimmerman (FC Dallas, LAFC).
